Wednesday, June 4, 2014

It's All About Passion, Attitude, and Patience

By Eddy Cruz, Director of Career Development

For our recent May graduates, for many, walking across the commencement stage brings with it a
sense of jubilation as well as a perceived end point.
However, what many recent graduates fail to realize is that this
point is not necessarily the end, rather a new beginning to what is to come.
So now after walking across the stage you begin to mentally
prepare yourself for your impending job search, which ultimately leads to
the first day within your new role as a professional. You realize the ability
to take naps between classes is no more! The transition from college to career
begins to set in and now you find yourself asking now what? Well, it’s
your lucky day, I would like to share three tips with you that were shared with
me when I made a similar transition - oh, so long ago. So when starting out, keep in mind, it's all about passion,
attitude, and patience.

Passion

Passion is key when beginning something new
regardless of what it is. If you are not passionate about what you are doing it
will show through in all that you do and will impact the outcomes of your work.
Without passion, getting up every day for work will be work. This will lead you
down a path of an unfavorable experience for both you and the organization. If
you find yourself in a situation that is not what you hoped, you have two
options, first, move on to a new position or second, find something within your
role that you are passionate about and use this to inspire and motivate you.
Passion propels you to do better and to be better. Every aspect of a position
as you start your career will not always be something you are passionate about,
however, it is all in how you approach it.

AttitudeAttitude is your approach to
people, tasks, and conflict. Over my career I have had the opportunity to learn
by observing and doing. Some of the greatest lessons I learned were from
situations that did not directly involve me. I was able to observe from afar
and gain some knowledge to use during similar situations in the future. When
you find yourself in a new environment, take time to observe how your peers and
leadership handle themselves in a variety of situations. A wise man once
said all humans make mistakes, but the wise learn from the mistakes of others.
Do not blame others or circumstances for your mistakes. Take accountability and
move forward. Another lesson learned is when I choose to have a positive
attitude, I produce positive outcomes. You can learn a lot
from others; emulate the positive and stay away from the negative
behaviors.

Your approach to work is determined by the attitude
you come in with. People do not want to be around others who are negative, a
gossip, or a know-it-all. Keep focus in your work and maintain a positive
attitude in all that you do. Leaders of your organization are always seeking
out individuals with the right attitude with the desire to move the
organization forward.

Patience

Another valuable lesson learned from a past mentor
was the importance of patience. He would always say, "Let the DNA wrap
around you!" Meaning, be patient and take the necessary time to learn
about the organization. Allow yourself to become a part of the organization's
DNA makeup. By gaining this understanding you begin to understand where
the organization is going and begin to live it as well. Additionally, it
becomes easier to understand expectations; they make sense and become clearer.

All in all, I hope you are able to take some of
these suggestions and learn from my experience. As you begin your career
remember these three things as you start your journey. It's all about having
passion for what you are doing, having the right attitude, and practicing
patience, and you will get going in the right direction for career success!